Cons

Editor's Summary

Cited as a serious dating site for professionals, EliteSingles is essentially eHarmony for a younger generation. The site does tend to attract the professional ‘elite’ with 82% of members holding university degrees. Although there is an app, EliteSingles is more of a full-blown, data-driven, and extremely targeted online dating site that takes matching personalities seriously. So seriously in fact, that the sign-up process consists of a roughly 45-minute long personality questionnaire, which asks well over 100 multiple choice, scaling answer, and open-ended questions. Luckily, after completing the questionnaire, the site auto-completes most profile and filter settings for the user and only takes a few minutes to begin delivering quality, data-based matches.

While it’s not unheard of, it is a bit unconventional in today’s mobile-focused world to see a dating company release an app and site that have minor to medium differences - especially when the app has less features than the desktop online dating site. If it’s your first time using the service it’s probably best to stick to the desktop at first, as you have a more hand-held experience, with prompts explaining how to use the site best and tips on how to start conversations with matches, as well as added capabilities the app lacks, such as the option to send a match questions from a preset question list and the option to see your full personality profile, which is insightful to say the least. The app is a convenient alternative for using the desktop site long-term, boasting all the main features from the site for people, or, more precisely, what we assume are busy professionals, on the go. Users can easily update their profiles and view and communicate with matches directly from the app.

EliteSingles profiles are rich and comprehensive, yet still scannable, making it easy to use the dating site from a desktop or mobile phone. Profiles pull in a large amount of information from the initial questionnaire, and users may supplement this info by filling out additional fields or adding more pictures once logged in. Users are best suited to do so, as EliteSingles has reportedly stated that a well-filled out profile increases one’s chances of getting a message eightfold. When viewing matches’ profiles, similarities are highlighted and marked with a heart to help users instantly identify what they have in common, as well cue them into topics that could spark a conversation. Matches are made carefully and based on data, derived from one’s personality profile, which is formed after the initial questionnaire. Members receive a limited number of data-driven matches each day, about 7-10, with the additional option of browsing through 20 bonus wildcard, (or not 100% compatible based on your profile) matches through a swiping system. The dating site is designed to get users communicating, therefore most anytime a user wants to show interest in a match, either from their match list or wildcard deck, they are prompted to send a message.

Although users may show interest in other ways from the match section, such as by sending smiles, and rather uniquely, by ‘liking’ certain sections of others’ profiles, doing away with the ability to simply like another member and leave it at that makes using the site a much more serious online dating experience than one would find on casual hookup sites. This is not a site to look for a one night stand, or find a quick date to throw in-between your upcoming two Tinder dates. Elite Singles is a site for singles looking for serious commitments and most everything about the site and app is meticulously designed to lead to relationships. It’s worth noting that the dating site claims to use intelligent matchmaking when users upgrade to a paid membership, which automatically calls the benefits of a free membership into question.

Reviews of the app really don’t do the entire company justice, as the desktop version is significantly superior to the app. Overall the online dating site and app has some promising matching capabilities and is surely a growing rival to the ever-famous data-driven matching site, eHarmony.com. As you’re only given at most 30 matches a day, the site requires time and patience, which could deter some users, while others may find the limit to make the site less time consuming. The free membership option is valid for anyone looking to identify deeper personality traits about themselves and who they might connect with best, and also gives users a chance to test drive with the platform before paying, but offers little functionality after that. To reap the benefits of this dating site that’s a breath of fresh air amongst a surplus of hookup sites, you’ll eventually have to, and at that point likely want to, sign up for a paid membership.

IN-DEPTH

Sign-Up Process

The signup process on a desktop is quite different from the signup process on the app. While the app only requires you enter an email address and create a password, the desktop version requires more details to better match you. In testing, when simply downloading the app and trying to use it, the app simply didn’t work. Nothing would load and the app would give an error message. When first signing up through the desktop version and then logging on to the app, the app started to sync to the desktop profile and worked normally. Therefore, it’s suggested users signup on the desktop version of the site, and then use the app or desktop moving forward - whichever is preferred.

When signing up on the desktop site, you select your gender (male or female) and what gender you are looking to match with (again male or female) and then enter an email address and create a password. From there you go through a personality questionnaire that claims to analyze 29 unique character traits.

This questionnaire takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete, depending on your speed and depth of answers. You’ll answer basic questions such as marital status, education, and date of birth as well as use a slider (not important, important, very important) to indicate how important certain aspects of another person are too you, such as how important is age or height to you in selecting a partner. As you continue further into the questionnaire, you’ll answer questions relating to how important appearance factors are to you in a partner using a sliding scale that ranges from doesn’t apply at all to completely applicable. These questions surround appearance traits such as Healthy, Trendy, and Sexy. Next you grade yourself, in a way, on the same sliding scale as you answer questions such as ‘How satisfied are you with your looks?’ and ‘How important is it to your partner has an attractive appearance?’. The questionnaire continues on with more personality-based questions asking you to answer how well certain statements apply to you such as ‘I stand up for myself and my interests.’ and ‘I wait for others to take the initiative.’ as well as over 60 questions about how well select adjectives describe you, such as self-aware, predictable, and agreeable - although some are slightly repetitive such as dominant and dominating. Next you select qualities your closest friends would describe you as from a list of adjectives and continue on to answer how well more statement-based questions apply to you, such as ‘I am satisfied with my emotional development.’ and ‘I have a strong desire for sex.’ At about 70% completion of the questionnaire you’ll rate how often in the past few months you have felt certain emotions, such as fortunate, out of control, and unable to cope, and select how important certain issues are in a relationship, such as similarities, sexual chemistry, and equality. Then you open endedly fill out three things you are most thankful for, move on to answer how interested you’d be if your partner entertained certain hobbies, such as music, travel, and clubbing, and write down any number of hobbies of your own. You end the questionnaire by answering questions about children, drinking and smoking habits, and income. Finally you upload a photo and as your partner suggestions are being calculated, you are asked to answer 7 open-ended questions about yourself.

The questionnaire is lengthy and time consuming but once it is completed, most areas you would normally have to manually fill out are completed as well, such as your search criteria (age and height, location and distance, children, education and income, smoking and drinking habits, ethnicity and religion) as well as the majority of your profile fields.

Finally you’re presented with membership options, which can be skipped, and you land on your profile. At this point you can login though the app and begin to use the app version. In the app you’ll see basic fields auto-completed from multiple choice questionnaire answers, while those that contain information from open-ended questions may still be in review.

You can enhance your profile, and your chances at finding a match by completing other sections of your profile from desktop or app. From desktop you can improve your profile by uploading additional photos and answering a likes & dislikes section. From the app or desktop, you may answer additional open-ended questions such as music you like, sports you like, and your ideal day, as well as complete a short bio about yourself.

From desktop only, you are also able to view your unique Personality Profile created by the answers to your questions, which features a "Big Five" Personality Dimension Analysis, and then more detailed areas broken down into categories of Consciousness, Agreeableness, Openness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. The personality profile is detailed and insightful, presented in a visually-pleasing way, with multiple charts and colors, and is worth logging onto the site on desktop to view.

Members/Interactions

Members discover others through viewing matches and liking or disliking wildcard matches. After such a lengthy questionnaire, it’s only fair the app does some work to help match you in some form and it does just that through your daily matches. Upon clicking the heart icon located in the lower left hand side of the app screen users are taken to the Singles section and see three columns: Matches, Favorites, and Visitors. Matches are individuals the site has matched with the user based on their personality profile, and users receive about 7 to 10 new matches per day. These matches are listed showing that individual’s main profile picture, name, age, and location.

Upon clicking any match listed, users see that match’s full profile and photo gallery. The photos, including the main profile picture are blurred until users upgrade to a paid membership. In the profile, the traits that the user and the match have in common are highlighted in purple and have a green heart icon next to them, making them easily identifiable. As a unique feature, users may ‘Like’ multiple sections of a match’s profile to show interest. Doing so starts your interaction and is recorded in the same area you send messages. Users may also show interest by clicking the smilie icon and sending a smile (which is also recorded in the message area), clicking the star icon to add the match to a favorites list, or sending a message, which can be done with text or emoticons. Of note, users must have a paid membership to send messages as well. A list of all messages and interactions is kept in the Inbox section which located is to the right of the Singles heart icon from the bottom menu.

Still in the Singles section, users have a Favorites column, which contains any profile they have favorited, and a Visitors column which shows who has liked your profile. The latter feature is only available to paid members.

Users may also discover others by going through their wildcard matches, which is basically a more serious version of a hot or not swiping game. To access this section, users click on the cupid’s arrow icon in the center of the bottom menu of the app. Wildcard matches are limited to 20 per day and do not 100% match your search criteria. For each wildcard match, users are presented with a box showing a match’s blurred picture (until you upgrade), name, age, location, and full profile minus the photo gallery section. Again here, the traits that the user and the match have in common are highlighted in purple and have a green heart icon next to them. From this information users may swipe left to pass or swipe right to show interest, but should do each with a bit more thought than normal. If users pass, which again is a paid feature to do so, that match is permanently removed from their ‘Kismet list’, and that profile will never show up to the user again. Upon swiping right the card flips around and users are prompted to send a message, which is still a paid feature only. There is no option to simply ‘like’ a match without sending a message. Essentially, the entire wildcard section is only available to paid members.

Key Features

- The extremely detailed personality profile is created identifying 29 unique personality traits and is insightful for any single using online dating sites

- In the hot or not like section users must send messages to show interest, which helps gets the lines of communication flowing

- Very similar to eHarmony, the site does the work for you, algorithmically matching you based on a comprehensive personality profile

- By passing on a Wildcard match, that match is permanently removed for the user, meaning no more passing on the same person multiple times.

- Profiles and match criteria is mostly auto-filled for users after completing the signup questionnaire

- Profiles are extensive, providing a plethora of information that is thorough yet scannable.

- Users may uniquely like certain sections of a match’s profile to show interest.

- Desktop version boast additional features for sorting and filtering, allows you to send questions from a list to matches, and also walks you through a step-by-step process to more easily make a connection with any match

- The site shows a limited number of matches each day, which forces users to pay more attention to the matches presented.

- All communication, from sending a smile to actual messaging, is recorded in the user’s inbox.

Safety & Security

The site is a positive SSL secured website, secured by COMODO for encryption of important information such as credit card numbers. Firewalls are also used to protect user information. EliteSingles uses automatic filters to prevent the sending of messages that may be harmful or offensive, such as those with certain pay numbers or those with inappropriate keywords. Upon viewing any profile, users may delete matches from showing up or report abuse.

Noteworthy

The online dating service often runs surveys and pulls in positive PR from releasing their findings. The site also has a thorough Magazine section filled with advice from relationship experts and psychologists from which information and advice is often picked up and cited in news stories.

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